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Was that a phone ringing? It had to be Castle's. He was the only one who had Jaws's ringtone on his phone. She shook his arm as to wake him up and pushed him a little bit harder when he didn't move.
"Your phone is ringing, Castle. Pick it up or turn it off, but I want to go back to sleep." She tried to turn around, but her pregnancy belly wouldn't let her move. She sighed when the room went silent again. Thank god he stopped that noise.
"Hello?" Castle answered. He was grumpy. He needed his ten hours of sleep.
"Hey, Ricky, is Paula. There has been this awesome opportunity. Ellen Degeneres want you to go to her show to promote your new series."
"Wow" He sat on the bed, completely awake by the news "That is amazing. I didn't know she was interested on writers"
Beckett sat beside him, gently stroking her belly. "What's up?" she mouthed. "Ellen degeneres" he answered back to her.
"I think she hasn't interviewed any yet. But, who cares? Pack up. Your flight takes off this evening".
"Wait. Wow, wait a second. I cannot go today. The baby is due in two days. I am not going to fly to L.A. before the baby is born."
"Listen, this is a one in a million opportunity. We can't move it to any other day. You are going to be there because of some food poisoning Chris Pine had at some restaurant. You have to do this. You could fly today, do the show tomorrow afternoon and get back on Saturday morning. Just two days. You would be in time for your baby's birth."
"I don't know, Paula. Let me talk to Kate. I'll call you later".
He didn't wait for her to answer. Hung up on her and looked to his wife.
"You have to go. No," she silenced him putting a finger in front of his mouth "You need to promote this series. No more Nikki Heat is a big change. You have to do this. And, besides, the baby seems comfy in there. I promise I won't be in labor until you come back."
"You can't promise that"
"I promise. Ok? You just have to give the audience some of your smiles, talk about the books and come back home. We're going to be fine. Alexis is coming tomorrow morning so if I need any help she would be around. You don't have to worry about anything."
"That's my job. I worry about you all the time".
"Well stop it. Even if its cute. "she gave him a big smile that earned her a wet kiss. "Please, trust me with this one, OK?"
"Ok. But you have to promise that you will be updating me if there is any change and that you will ask Alexis for help."
"Fine. I promise. Do you mind if I sleep a bit more until you finish packaging?"
"Not at all" He kissed her forehead and went to the wardrobe to start gathering his clothes.
Ellen Degeneres. Wow. For a lot of people it may only be a day-time show, but for him, a writer, was a golden opportunity to reach his target buyers all around the country. He was excited, he couldn't deny it. He couldn't stop thinking of what to say and what not to, how to promote his book and how to lead with questions about his private life that were definitely going to appear.
When he finished packaging he couldn't wake up her. Didn't want to. She looked peaceful, and calm and angelical, if that was even a state. She looked sweet on her sleep, with her hair messed up all over the pillow and her mouth slightly open. He sat down on the bed, smiling at her. If Beckett woke up at that moment she would say he was being creepy. But who cared? He was in love. He had been in love with her for more than eight years. It took him three years to tell her he loved her, two more to start dating her, another two to marry her and one year to have a baby with her. He could be creepy, staring at her as if he was the most precious treasure he possessed. In fact, she was. And now she was going to give him a baby. A chubby little boy or girl that would have him wrapped around its cute tiny finger for the rest of his life.
He kissed her on her cheek and left the room, closing the door quietly.
After she woke up a bit disoriented he gave her breakfast: pancakes, waffles and orange juice. She was going to work out hard after the baby was born. The spent the rest of the day preparing what they called the birth bag. It was a huge sports bag with everything they could need at the hospital and wouldn't have time to gather up when her water broke. Castle wanted to pack toys for the baby or magazines for when she was feeling better and bored. She was more practical. Diapers, pijama, bottles, pacifiers...
They had lunch together. Castle sitting on the floor, eating his Chinese leftovers and Beckett semi-lying on the sofa with a big piece of lasagna he prepared two days ago.
"I'm nervous" he confessed
"Don't be. You are going to be great and Ellen seems to be nice."
"No. I mean... I'm nervous about the baby. I'm old to be a dad again. I have a grown up daughter who is nearly finishing her bachelors degree. I could be our kids grandpa."
"You can't be serious. You are 47, babe. A lot of men have kids in their forties. Are you going through "the crisis"? Because I don't know if I can handle it."
"Not a crisis. It's just... it doesn't matter really."
"Hey, come over here. Don't make me sit down on the floor. I don't know if I could get up afterwards." Castle let go a soft laugh and sat down besides her. He put her feet over her lap and she moved a little bit closer, putting her head on his shoulder. "You are going to be great. I though we had already agreed that I was going to be the one messing up." He chuckled and kissed her hair "You are awesome, Castle. Great dad to Alexis and already a great dad to our baby. Don't worry about that."
They stayed like that for a long time. Without moving. She was playing with the buttons of his shirt while he tangled a lock of her hair around his finger.
"Are you ok?" she asked. She had to writhe herself to looked him in the eyes.
"Yes. Better now"